All boys and girls 12 and younger in costume will be admitted free to the University of Evansville men's basketball exhibition opener on Halloween against Hanover College. Saturday's tip-off is at 2:05 CDT.

This is the first of two exhibitions for coach Marty Simmons' Purple Aces prior to the season opener in two weeks. They also play Kentucky Wesleyan on November 7. Six returning players and eight newcomers make up this year's squad. The veterans include senior Trevor Gregory, juniors Kavon Lacey, Clint Hopf and Pieter van Tongeren, and sophomores James Haarsma and Denver Holmes. Newcomers include junior Monie Hudson, sophomore Bryan Bouchie, and freshmen Lewis Jones, Troy Taylor, Colt Ryan, Andy Chinn, Ned Cox and Derek Johnson.

"Our veterans have provided good leadership, and I like the energy and athleticism that our news guys bring," according to Simmons. "Now we get a chance to play together as one team against a new opponent, and that's exciting for everybody. I'm like our fans right now. I'm anxious to see our team play a game."

This will be the second time in three years that Evansville has played Division III Hanover. The Aces pulled away from the Panthers in the second half to win a regular season game at Roberts Stadium in December, 2007, 57-44.